In Spain VRAC Quesos Entrepinares menaced to withdraw, but Continental Shield dates appeared on 2017/18 FER calendar so somebody should go. It would be ridiculous situation and a failure not to have a team competing here the year where we will be holding finals.

BTW, there are two options for Continental Shield final. Either San Mamés Berria like Champions and Challenge Cup or Fadura, Getxo home ground and 15 km away (30 minutes by Metro).

In case there was still any kind of doubt, VRAC Quesos Entrepinares president says they have sent a letter to FER declining their participation in Continental Shield because they haven't received any kind of information about it and they don't know how it would affect their budget: http://www.diariodevalladolid.es/notici ... 92889.html

Anyway, let's be honest. It's just an excuse. Spanish clubs know they don't stand a chance against Russian, Romanian and Italian teams and these don't have the appeal to fill grandstands and make it profitable.

Armchair Fan wrote:In case there was still any kind of doubt, VRAC Quesos Entrepinares president says they have sent a letter to FER declining their participation in Continental Shield because they haven't received any kind of information about it and they don't know how it would affect their budget: http://www.diariodevalladolid.es/notici ... 92889.html

Anyway, let's be honest. It's just an excuse. Spanish clubs know they don't stand a chance against Russian, Romanian and Italian teams and these don't have the appeal to fill grandstands and make it profitable.

Very disappointing if nobody from Spain takes part. The competition will be lesser without them and exposure to more professional clubs could only help enhance the quality of play in the Spanish league. Everything seems to have to be a drama in Spanish rugby!

In fairness, I sympathise with them about the lack of information. There is no reason I can see why the Continental Shield fixtures and draw shouldn't be finalised at the same time as they are announced for the Champions and Challenge Cups.

Bruce_ma_goose wrote:Very disappointing if nobody from Spain takes part. The competition will be lesser without them and exposure to more professional clubs could only help enhance the quality of play in the Spanish league. Everything seems to have to be a drama in Spanish rugby!

In fairness, I sympathise with them about the lack of information. There is no reason I can see why the Continental Shield fixtures and draw shouldn't be finalised at the same time as they are announced for the Champions and Challenge Cups.

The thing is that for two years in a row Spanish entrant to Continental Shield has gone from a league-cup double to losing both finals the following year. And both Valladolid clubs blame how European games (both Continental Shield and Iberian Cup) are a factor in finishing the season exhausted.

Plus, in El Salvador forum a couple of users have confirmed that the rest of clubs were opposed to leaving spots in this season's schedule for European games and the fact that Spanish entrant received a bye to Copa del Rey semifinals. One of them, behind Revista Veintidós (Spanish rugby magazine) and Sanitas Alcobendas, even explained that only Rugby Europe gives a 12,000€ grant, which doesn't even cover one third of the cost to play in Russia. FER doesn't give a dime.

To me the whole situation is shameful and as damaging to Spanish rugby image as playing REC games in a 1940s stadium or sending weaker teams every June to Nations Cup.

Yes, I share your frustration. The long term future of rugby in countries like Spain to me is in part dependent on the credibility and authority of Rugby Europe.

Their competitions put REC sides and their clubs in the spotlight and gives them credibility if done correctly. They are the main vehicles in building pressure for increased integration of European Tier1 and 2 at international and club level.

Obviously Rugby Europe deserves some criticism for some of their organisational decisions and communication, but if the FER and club owners harbour any ambitions about commercialising and professionalising the game domestically then they should be grabbing these opportunities with both hands and making them a priority for their limited resources.

there are some interesting questions about "promotion of rugby across Europe beyond England, Ireland, France, Scotland, Wales & Italy"

Spoiler:

Very unusual combination of questions. I made remarks about promotion and relegation between the Challenge Cup and Continental Shield. Funny how in the list of words describing the Continental Shield it lists "confusing" twice!

Four Italian teams (sigh...), a Romanian, a Georgian, a German and a Portuguese ones that will play six pool games each. And the link talks about the creation of a "Rugby Europe League" the following season.

Thanks Armchair and SuofficerSix pool games should mean a "traditional" format with home & away matches between teams of the same poolThe italian teams are almost certainly Calvisano (1st in Eccellenza), Viadana (4th), Rovigo (2nd) and Padova (3rd)

Canalina wrote:Thanks Armchair and SuofficerSix pool games should mean a "traditional" format with home & away matches between teams of the same poolThe italian teams are almost certainly Calvisano (1st in Eccellenza), Viadana (4th), Rovigo (2nd) and Padova (3rd)

I'm really pleased they have gone for a better pool format than the awful one of the last couple of years, that is a big positive. And it is great to see a Georgian team once again

Its a shame that half of the competing teams are from Italy though, Russia certainly deserve a team in there, Romania deserve 2 more than Italy deserve 4. Also sad not to see any Spanish or Belgian teams

I'm sure the other countries would have been offered extra spots if they would pay some costs. For Russia having an extra team makes less sense as they have nothing to gain. They already have control of the two Challenge Cup spots.

I am very happy to see the Italian union continue to engage actively with their Tier2 neighbours and talk of a future RE league is interesting as it suggests a more major commitment. I would not be surprised if they are looking at long term alternatives to involvement in the Pro12.

Timisoara should be odds on for one playoff spot but the second one should be fairly open.

I think you've hit the nail on the head here. I think Agronomia from Portugal would relish the chance to play, and i susepct they could if the money could be found. I think sadly theats the crux of it.